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Candling Eggs

Candling is a way of checking the fertility of an egg and the development of the embryo, with the use of a light source in a darkened room. In a darkened room, carefully hold the egg up to the light to observe the contents of the egg.

Candling Results

The embryo is located at the large end of the egg, where blood vessels will be present under the surface if the egg is fertile. The embryo appears as a dark spot which becomes larger as the incubation period continues.

Fertile egg – the egg will appear to have a black spot which as the embryo grows and incubation continues will grow larger until light will only pass through the air cell end of the egg.

Infertile egg – eggs appear clear.

Dead embryo – if the egg was fertile but the embryo has died then you will see a blood ring around the yolk or possibly a dark spot dried to the inside of the shell depending on when the embryo stopped growing.

Note that dark or brown shelled eggs are more difficult to candle than white or pale shelled eggs.

When To Candle

Candling can be done at any time, although day 8 onwards is usually when the embryo is more easily identified.

Day 3 of incubation (usually pale shelled eggs).

Day 5/6 of incubation (usually dark shelled eggs).

Between day 8 – 12 of incubation (embryo more easily identified).

3 days prior to hatching.

Why Candle

To remove infertile eggs or eggs with a dead embryo so that the incubator does not become contaminated.

Candling Equipment

A torch with a lense the size of a small coin may be used.

A commercial candler may be purchased.

A homemade candler which uses a bulb or torch placed in a container with a small hole to let the light pass through.

Remember that if you decide to candle your eggs, make sure that you handle the eggs carefully and only take them out of the incubator for a short time.

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One thought on “Candling Eggs”

I have a pigeon egg and im not sure if it is going to hatch.
It is white and has a liquid inside. its looks like there is an air bubble, but im not that sure.
Could you please tell me what a pigeon egg looks like when it is ready to hatch..??
Thankyou.